New Kyrgyz Governor Promises Boost For South

(RFE/RL) May 25, 2006 -- Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiev's newly appointed southern envoy today promised to develop the economy in the southern part of the country.

Jantoro Satylbadiev -- who Bakiev also appointed governor of the Osh region on May 24 -- also pledged to step up measures against terrorism and religious extremism in the region, which has a large ethnic-Uzbek minority.

Satylbadiev said he is giving up his membership of the For Reforms opposition movement, though he said he continues to believe in the movement's aims.

For Reforms is demanding that the government impose law and order and uproot corruption. It is also pressing for constitutional and economic reforms.

(24.kg, AKIpress)